38 USC § 1121 - Basic entitlement

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s1121"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 1121 - Basic entitlement"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "1121"
section_name: "Basic entitlement"
chapter_number: 11
chapter_name: "COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "WARTIME DEATH COMPENSATION"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "GENERAL BENEFITS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1122, § 321; Pub. L. 92–197, § 6, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 662; Pub. L. 94–433, title IV, § 404(12), Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1378; renumbered § 1121 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)"
---


# § 1121. Basic entitlement

January 1, 1957section 1122 of this title

The surviving spouse, child or children, and dependent parent or parents of any veteran who died before  as the result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military, naval, or air service, in line of duty, during a period of war, shall be entitled to receive compensation at the monthly rates specified in .

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1122, § 321; Pub. L. 92–197, § 6, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 662; Pub. L. 94–433, title IV, § 404(12), Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1378; renumbered § 1121 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—, renumbered  as this section.

, substituted “1122” for “322”.

1976— substituted “spouse” for “widow”.

1971— struck out eligibility clause when the veteran died after , under circumstances described in .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date of 1971 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .